Revolution Trains, Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield are joining forces to offer 66788 Locomotion 15 as an N gauge exclusive model.
66788 Locomotion 15 at Rivenhall End in 2022. Photograph courtesy David Smith.
The locomotive was named in September 2019 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the opening of Locomotion in Shildon, partner museum to the National Railway Museum in York and home to a large number of historic items from the national collection.
Locomotion has a particular role in highlighting the vital role the railways have had in moving freight, and naming the locomotive in its honour is especially appropriate.
GBRf engineering director Bob Tiller and Head of Locomotion Sarah Price at 66788’s naming ceremony at Shildon.
Sarah Price, Head of Locomotion, said “The naming of ‘Locomotion 15’ in 2019 was a wonderful way to celebrate the museum on our 15th anniversary, so I am looking forward to seeing the engine brought to life in miniature.”
The locomotive will join the Railway Icons range, a joint initiative between Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield.
Stuart Brown of Locomotion said: “We are thrilled to be working with Revolution Trains for the first time on the first N-Gauge model in the Railway Icons range.”
Revolution’s new Class 66 locomotive will feature the very latest in detailing, light and sound features, and the tooling allows for 66788 to be correctly depicted as the former EWS locomotive 66238 acquired by GBRf in 2018.
The model will feature accurate details including swinghead buckeye coupler and control lever, loco location beacon on the horn grille and original BMAC design lights. It will not have the distinctive driver cab mirrors as these have been removed by GBRf.
The model can be preordered now from either Locomotion Model or Rails of Sheffield and is priced at £159.95 (DC Silent) or £254.95 (DCC Sound.)
Revolution Trains is offering the Class 66 as its next diesel in N gauge. In a departure from our normal practice, the model has been tooled and samples have been tested and approved with decorated samples imminent.
In addition, we have created Revolution Bespoke – which will allow you to specify your own individually numbered loco when ordering!
This is a test sample and has some details not yet engraved or combined unprototypically for illustrative purposes.
The models are being offered in both original 4-door tier 0 (UIC 1) and low emission 5-door tier 1 (UIC 2) versions, and our tooling suite allows for prototypical variations in bodyshells, underframes, bogies, horn grilles, marker lights, tie-down loops, sandboxes, light clusters, buffers and couplers.
This means that we can offer not only the ‘standard’ EWS, Freightliner and GBRf versions but some of the more interesting variants including those repatriated from Europe, with UIC standard features, and the last batch built at Muncie, Indiana, with distinctive cab end recesses.
The prototype
The Class 66 revolutionised railfreight in Britain when it entered service a quarter of a century ago, and there are more than 500 of the type in service. On their introduction in 1998 they rapidly became known as the ‘red death’ as their power and reliability led to the rapid withdrawal of numerous older British Rail types.
The Red Death begins: 66001 at Toton TMD in 1998. Photo: Tim Horn, Creative Commons.
After acquiring Britain’s railfreight businesses in the 1996 rail privatisation, Wisconsin Central’s Ed Burkhardt’s quickly realised that large numbers of powerful, reliable new locomotives were needed if he was to make a success of the fledgling English, Welsh and Scottish Railway.
Having examined the US-built Class 59s, with their unparallelled levels of reliability, he placed an order with EMD for 250 locomotives to a similar design.
Designated Class 66 under TOPS, the new locomotives were faster than the 59s, had a greater range, and were supplied with radial (self-steering) bogies, for reduced track wear. To speed things up the Class 59 ‘outline’ was used as it was known to conform to the British loading gauge – a factor that would significantly reduce the time needed for UK approval and certification.
Since then the design’s versatility and reliability have seen it ordered by most other UK freight operators.
Photos clockwise from top left: Colin Brooks, Steve Knight, Sim0n Trains, John Ray (all Creative Commons), Mick Page, Dave MacAlone.
The model
Like the locos ordered by Ed Burkhardt, Revolution’s model builds on our successful Class 59 with many shared chassis parts and a similar specification. This includes photo etched grilles all round, numerous separate body and detail parts and a plethora of tooling options to allow prototypical variations in bodyshell, bogies, lighting arrangements, horn grilles, cab windows, cab interiors and underframes.
Revolution Class 66 sample on ‘Chirk’ by Allen Pearson.
Of more than 500 Class 66s in service in Britain there are only a handful that we cannot offer, and while we are not attempting to produce every version immediately over the coming years, we do look forward to filling the gaps in the options available to N gauge enthusiasts.
CAD images showing detail variations including (clockwise from top left) Muncie-build cab front with deeper sandboxes and tier 1 bogie cut-outs plus option of unique bell on last-built 66779, low emission extended roof and side grilles, additional plough on EWS locos used in Europe, EWS original cab interior, swinghead coupler and driver mirrors, Euro interior in GBRf imports combined with UIC horn housing, rectangular buffers and duplicate air pipes.
Like our Class 59, all Revolution Trains Class 66 locomotives will be supplied with one end superdetailed with full air dam and cosmetic couplers/air pipes at one end and slotted air dam with standard N coupler in NEM pocket at the other, however all models are supplied with duplicate parts so you can configure your model with superdetailing or working couplers at both ends should you prefer.
Liveries
Revolution is offering a selection of locomotives in our standard range including all the main operators. Named locomotives will come with the name printed on the bodyside at 95% size plus photo-etched nameplates for the customer to fit.
66083 – EWS
‘Standard’ EWS version with original BMAC lights, swinghead buckeye couplers and driver cab mirrors. 66083 is still carrying this livery in 2023.
66538 – original Freightliner
With ‘bug’eye’ lights representing second batch ordered by Freightliner. 66538 is still carrying this livery in 2023.
66704 – orginal GBRf
As first batch of seven delivered to GBRf with early logo and BMAC lights. Cab colour golden yellow.
66404 – DRS ‘Compass’
Represents first batch delivered to DRS in 2003 with bug-eye lights.
66128 – DB red with large logo
Depicted in 2016+ condition with revised BMAC lights.
66848 – Colas Rail Freight
With bug-eye lights is one of the locos acquired by Colas from Freightliner.
66795 – GBRf
Ex-Euro loco repatriated from Germany with ‘Euro’ details including extended horn grille, UIC cab interior and rectangular buffers. Supplied with Bescot LDC nameplates. Cab colour bright orange.
66303 – DRS plain blue
Low emission locomotive with modified BMAC lights.
66720 ‘Wascosa’ – GBRf
Low emission version with bug-eye lights and Wascosa branding. Supplied with ‘Wascosa’ nameplates.
66623 – Freightliner Genessee & Wyoming livery
Early G&W repaint from mid-2019, with revised BMAC lights.
66752 ‘The Hoosier State’ – GBRf Europorte livery
First of the last batch of locos built at Muncie, Indiana (which is nicknamed the Hoosier state) with revised details including cab front recess and extended sandboxes.
Please note graphic images are illustrative only.
Introducing ‘Revolution Bespoke…’
In addition Revolution has partnered up with Rainbow Railways to offer a new service so you can order not just the loco you like, but the individual running number you want too.
For a small premium any of our standard livery models can be ordered with your choice of number and, if appropriate, fitted etched nameplates. This work will be carried out by Rainbow Railways after the factory decorated base models are here and you will receive your chosen the locomotive soon after the main production is shipped.
The cost for this is £20 for printed details, £30 for printed details plus fitted photo-etched nameplates.
EWS maroon. Possible numbers: 66004-200. . Can be supplied with DB logo instead of EWS where appropriate.
GBRf blue. Possible numbers 66701-7 GBRf. Can be supplied with original or revised GBRf lettering.
Freightliner original. Possible numbers 66538-81, 66607-22 original Freightliner.
DB red. Possible numbers: 66004-200. Note: model has revised light clusters so is only suitable for refitted locomotives.
Revolution Bespoke also applies to DRS, revised GBRf and Colas versions.
Full options and prices will be available after Warley.
DCC, lights and sound
Like our Class 59, the Class 66 will feature ESU’s new E24 nano decoder. These decoders are smaller than Next 18 but offer significantly more functions, enabling all lights to be individually controlled and enabling us to offer fully prototypical working lights on DCC with directional headlights and marker lights, cab interior lights, two different yard modes for shunting and park mode.
With a nod to the prototype, the DCC decoder socket, and DC lighting switches, are accessed by removing the centre engine panel.
As with our other powered models Revolution is offering DC Silent and DCC Sound versions, with different sound files for the original locomotives and the low emission variants.
Prices and timelines
Because we have already reached the EP sample stage with this model the duration of the pre-order period will be significantly reduced, and we expect to put these models into production soon after Chinese New Year in late February, with delivery expected in late summer 2024.
The standard models are available to order until 31 January 2024 at a discounted pre-order price of £144.95 DC Silent and £239.95 for DCC Sound, after which the price will rise to the MSRP of £159.95 DC Silent or £254.95 for DCC Sound.
Our N gauge Class 128s have just arrived and we’ve checked them over in the final part of our normal QC process before shipping them to customers.
Paid in full: if you paid in full you don’t need to do anything, your model should have shipped (and your order status updated).
Paid a deposit: all balance invoices have been sent out. Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched.
If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account but also please send us an email if you changed it since 9 October (otherwise your order might not get updated in time). Thanks!
If you missed out on our pre-orders some of our retailers still have models available to order (they should receive their allocations late this week).
Pendolino remaining batch:we’ve received the remaining Pendolinos (ie the Pride Pendolino and the 11-car full Avanti Pendolino) and will start to send them out on 19/10/23 (as well as generate any balance invoices).
When we decided to produce the Mark 5 sleepers we were conscious that some customers may have missed out on our Class 92s in Caledonian Sleeper and GBRf liveries (both of which are used on the sleepers), so we decided to keep stock of a small quantity for release when the Mk5 sleepers arrived.
We have got very limited stocks of the following:
92018 in Caledonian Sleeper teal (DC/DCC ready and DCC Sound versions)
92023 in Caledonian Sleeper teal (DC/DCC ready only)
92032 in GBRf Europorte livery (DC/DCC ready and DCC Sound versions)
92043 in GBRf revised livery (DC/DCC ready only)
In particular the GBRf and DCC sound versions have extremely limited quantities.
The stock is available to order now from our online shop but please don’t mix with other items.
Revolution has received the first consignment of its Mk5 coaches. These are the Caledonian Sleeper versions; the TPE sets are due within the next few weeks.
Chapter and verse – Caledonian Sleeper book sets are here
Models have been dispatched for all pre-paid customers (though some international orders may not have arrived) and we are now working our way through balance payments to fufil remaining orders.
Retailers will be receiving their models soon too.
In the box
All models are supplied with full instructions, a ‘lighting rod’ to operate the interior and tail lighting, working Dellner-style couplers for those who desire added realism and a pair of ‘long’ NEM couplers for use on outer coaches coupled to locomotives that do not have kinematic couplers.
Marshalling your train
In addition to the instructions included we have designed the guides below to enable customers to marshall their trains prototypically.
Caledonian Sleeper runs two distinct services: The Lowlander and The Highlander.
The Lowlander links London Euston with Glasgow and Edinburgh. The train comprises two half-sets and splits (or reforms when running south) at Carstairs.
Revolution Lowlander sets have the code RT-CS-LS-Mk5 packX and can be marshalled as shown.
Haulage is usually Caledonian Sleeper or GBRf Class 92 throughout.
The Highlander links London Euston with Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness. This train runs from Euston to Edinburgh where it splits into the various sections, and Fort William trains have two additional day coaches added. The split between sleepers for Aberdeen or Fort William also varies to take account of seasonal fluctuations and tourist traffic.
Revolution Highlander sets have the code RT-CS-HS-Mk5 packX and can be marshalled as shown.
Haulage is Class 92 between London and Edinburgh, then Class 73/9s (often assisted by a GBRf Class 66) take over for the non-electrified lines north.
Excess drag on some wheelsets
We have sent out thousands of Mk5 coaches and inevitably some customers have reported issues – primarily excessive drag on some wheelsets.
Designing smooth running bogies with inside bearings and power pick-ups is a challenge in N gauge; the Revolution models feature metal half-axles in spacer muffs running in metal ring bearings in an effort to overcome this.
On our test samples the performance was very smooth, however it is possible that in mass production the alignment of some wheelsets or components may be mis-shapen or just badly fitted. The tolerances involved are hundredths of a millimetre.
Ideally there would be no problems at all, but if you do have difficulties here are some suggestions:
Let the models run. Several customers have reported that after a period of running in the drag decreases rapidly as the axles and bearings burnish and settle.
We have found that removing any stiff wheelsets and reseating them can often free them up (the wheelsets simply unclip from the bogie and then clip back in.)
Check the pick-ups. Some customers have found small burrs which prevent them seating properly in the bogie frame. Correcting this can improve running significantly.
Check the back-to-back dimensions. If the wheels are slightly too close together they can ‘pinch’ the pick ups, exacerbating any drag.
We recommend that you check that the wheelsets are free running before putting 16 coaches behind your favourite loco. If you’re running-in your coaches as suggested above we suggest doing them in small batches.
Please do not apply any form of liquid lubricant, as such chemicals may react with the plastic of the bogies.
Anyone experiencing ongoing problems, or who is nervous about making such checks themselves, is urged to contact our customer support manager for assistance using the email address in the instructions.
Also, while we do our best to follow social media it is inevitable that we will miss some posts and information. If you have found issues/solutions with our Mk5s that we may not be aware of please email our support line so we can add that experience to the pool of knowledge.
Needless to say we want to ensure all customers are happy with their models and will continue to investigate all issues and offer solutions.
We have also asked the factory to check the pick ups and bogies on the Mk5 TPE sets currently finishing production to hopefully ensure similar issues are not found with these models when they are delivered.
Following the recent arrival of our PFAs, all balance invoices have been generated – if you were expecting a balance invoice but haven’t received it by email then please check your account on our website. If you can’t see a balance invoice (and you paid a deposit rather than in full) then please get in contact with us through the contact form on our website. If you pay your balance by Wednesday 13 September then your order will go out in the first batch of deliveries!
PFAs in N
If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account but also please send us an email if you changed it since 11 September (otherwise your order might not get updated in time). Thanks!
If you missed out on our pre-orders some of our retailers still have models available to order (they should receive their allocations early next week).
Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched.
Revolution Trains will once again be attending the International N Gauge Show at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre this coming weekend – September 9th-10th.
We are on stand 18 in the nearside corner of the hall – if you turn a hard right as you enter and keep walking you can’t miss us!
As ever we are very much looking forward to meeting and chatting with old friends and new and showing off the progress on our many N gauge projects.
On display will be EP samples of our forthcoming Class 175 and 180 units and 1938 stock tube trains, along with decorated samples of our upcoming Cartic-4 car carriers.
The show also gives enthusiasts the opportunity to see up close samples of those models about to go into production, such as the Class 313 units (including those available exclusively from Rails of Sheffield with T7 translator cars), Borail, Mullet, Parr and Super Tench wagons and FNA-D nuclear flask carriers.
But wait! There’s more! We will also be happy to chat in person on progress of other previously announced models including the Class 120 Swindon units, IHA steel coil carrier, K-type Pullmans and Class 377/387 Electrostar models, plus anything else we may have up our sleeves.
And remember, we are invariably far more indiscreet in person than online – provided it isn’t blurted all over the web we are usually happy to share other more secret plans face-to-face to help customers with their budgeting.
PFA and gypsum container orders: customers wishing to collect their PFAs and/or gypsum container packs will be able to do so if you let us know by 2100 on Thursday 7 September. Shipments and balance invoices will begin to be sent out shortly, but if you would like to collect your order(s) at TINGS this weekend please complete the short form here. You will be able to pay any balance due at the show.
Prize draw: as a final incentive we will be offering tickets for a charity prize draw to raise funds for the Railway Children charity with some wonderful prizes (including some no longer available models) – please look out for the separate post on the prize draw (tickets will be available online and at the show)!
Customers wishing to collect their PFAs and/or gypsum container packs will be able to do so if you let us know by 2100 on Thursday 7 September.
PFAs in N
Shipments and balance invoices will begin to be sent out shortly, but if you would like to collect your order(s) at TINGS this weekend please complete the short form here (please make sure you click on Submit at the end of the form, you should get confirmation of submission on screen). You will be able to pay any balance due at the show (we will refund any postage paid after collection).
With our FNA-D nuclear flask wagons now in stock here with Revolution and with retailers we have received some enquiries from customers about the variations in hazchem panels applied to the models.
When loaded, the wagons are required to run with panels indicating the contents – for these wagons this is 3329 7 fissile nuclear material, which comes with assorted regulations for loading, transportation and unloading, and showing the Radsafe information line number for use if necessary.
In addition, the wagons can carry the appropriate ADR/EU orange hazard labels with the same 3329 code, though this is not always present.
When running empty – either to a nuclear site, for repair or maintenance, or as a barrier wagon or spare, the panels do not carry any warnings at all, and to enable our customers to replicate this we are offering one wagon – version 3 – which does not have the warnings present. This table shows the panels on each of the models on offer.
Revolution Trains is offering the IHA ‘Sfhimmns’ canvas covered steel coil carriers as its next wagon model in 00 and N.
CAD is complete and the models in both scales are in tooling, however the 00 model is slightly more advanced than the N gauge version.
The stubby design, with its characteristic platform at one end above the buffers to allow staff to cross safely from one side of a train to the other, is a familiar sight on steel trains and often intermixed with other designs such as the Thrall-built BRA/BYA ‘Nissen hut’ design.
66303 on Dee Marsh – Margam service. Photo courtesy Roger Cutts.
Tata Steel Clayton battery hybrid shunter 930 shunts IHA wagons at Knuckle Yard, South Wales. This locomotive type is also being offered by Revolution Trains. Courtesy Clayton Equipment Ltd.
Photos: Clockwise from left – 66007 on Margam-Wembley enterprise, 2009. Courtesy Robert Catterson; GBRf 66755 with Grain-Margam service; 47212 in RfD livery at Kingswinford Junc. in 1995. Courtesy Dave Gomersall.
47805 ‘Talisman’ and 47769 ‘Resolve’ on hire to Colas with a short train for Dollands moor, 209. Courtesy David Smith.
Colas 56113 with imported steel from Boston bound for the Midlands in 2016. Courtesy GarstangpostT21.
There are around 250 of the type in use for transporting high-grade steel on a variety of flows. These include domestic steel from South Wales to destinations in the midlands, north and south-east of England and via the Channel tunnel to customers in France, Belgium and Holland.
IHA wagons at Botlek in the Netherlands. The smaller British loading gauge is very apparent in this image courtesy of Paul van Duin.
These wagons are also used to feed imported steel from ports on the east coast and Thames estuary to steel terminals inland.
Left: 08507 shunts IHAs over the swing bridge at Boston Docks. Courtesy 6089 Gardener. Right: IHAs at Wolverhampton Steel Terminal. Courtesy Stephen Burdett.
Protoype history
The first batch of 48 wagons were built by Fauvet Girel in 1991, registered in France and given the UIC code Sfhimms; the ‘f’ in the code signifying their suitability in the smaller British loading gauge. Further batches were built in 1993 and 1998.
There are very minor variations between batches and these are accounted for in the Revolution tooling.
Now owned by wagon leasing company Ermewa, the wagons have red bogies, underframes and ends and grey canvas covers. Some have yellow discs painted in the covers signifying they are reserved for domestic traffic only.
Recently, as the canvas covers came due for renewal, wagon owners Ermewa began adding its branding more prominently.
IHA in original as built liveryIHA in domestic traffic with yellow discIHA in domestic traffic with HT brandingIHA refitted with new Ermewa branded canvas hood
These graphics are for illustrative purposes only and not approved painting diagrams.
A further batch of similarly-coded wagons was built in 2008-9 by Astra Rail (now Greenbrier) in Romania and finished in GE (now Touax) blue livery, however these are to a different design and are not the subject of this model.
Model features
The wagons feature our usual levels of detailing with lots of separate parts and photo-etched platforms at one end and NEM coupler pockets in kinematic mounts.
The models are also designed for easy conversion to EM or P4 standards, with axles set at 26mm. The brake blocks on the model will be supplied correct for its 00 wheels, but additional mounting holes have been incorporated into the frames to make widening them straightforward.
Brake blocks at 00 spacingBrake blocks at P4 spacing
Formations and destinations…
During our research we have identified numerous flows these wagons are used on however it is quite possible there are others we have not come across.
The majority of the flows on the diagram are now operated by DB, however the Margam-Dee Marsh and Grain-Llanwern contracts are now in the hands of GBRf, on occasion using hired in locomotives. The Trostre-Tilbury trains and those carrying imported steel from Boston use Colas traction, often Class 56.
One reason for offering these wagons, as our popular sample consists diagram shows, is that they tie in very nicely with other models already available – such as the BYA from Bachmann, IGA from Heljan, IWA from Dapol and JSA from Accurascale, enabling enthusiasts to depict more authentic steel traffic.
We would like to thank Ermewa and DB/Axiom for permission to use their logos and IP and their generous help with information and facilitating close up inspections of the real thing.
We are hoping to have first samples of these models for evaluation very soon, with delivery expected by summer next year.
Rails of Sheffield have teamed up with Revolution Trains to offer three exciting exclusive models for N gauge enthusiasts, based on the forthcoming Class 313 units.
The models are Network Rail’s 313121 test train in yellow livery, Southern’s 313201 in revised BR Blue and a twin-pack containing the Arlington Fleet Services T7 vehicles used as translators for multiple unit moves.
313121 was converted in 2013 at Wembley to enable engineers to test the new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and painted into a yellow livery.
The former commuter unit was chosen for this role as it can operate on either overhead and third rail power and has can be used on restricted gauge routes.
313121 at Camden Town. Photo Roger Marks under Creative Commons.
In 2017 Class 313 pioneer 313201 (former 313001) was repainted by Beacon Rail and Govia into BR Blue (with with grey doors to conform to modern accessibility regulations) to mark more than four decades of service given by the class.
313201 also took part in the recent ‘Class 313 Farewell’ railtour from Brighton to Portsmouth and Hastings recently.
In 2014 two outer driving cars from unit 508207 were converted at Arlington in Eastleigh into translator units coded T7 to enable locomotives with standard hook and shackle couplers to move multiple units fitted with tightlock couplers.
The two vehicles, 64664 and 64707, were painted bright mint green and named Liwet and Labezerin in 2016. Often seen travelling to and from deliveries behind a GBRf Class 66, the pair offer a complete train in a single box.
66755 with T7 set in 2019. Courtesy Train Photos used under Creative Commons.
Our models feature a working tightlock couplers at the cab ends and standard N gauge couplers, with working directional red tail lights, at the non-cab ends. The models are expected to ship in Q1-2 2024.
Revolution will be closing the order book for its own Class 313s at the end of September, to allow customers to see the decorated samples on our stand at The International N Gauge Show, after which the models are still likely to be available from retailers but at a higher price.
Model photos of 313121, 313201 and T7 cars courtesy of Rails of Sheffield and Tom Everitt.
The first batch of Pendolinos have arrived and we have started to despatch orders to customers – if you have a balance to pay you should have a balance invoice in your email or if not in your account on our website.
Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched.
The first batch covers most liveries except Avanti (11-car only) and the Virgin Pride sets (which still need a bit more work and will come in a second batch). Please note that we won’t send out balance invoices for those two sets at this time.
If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account but also please send us an email if you changed it since 22 June (otherwise your order might not get updated in time). Thanks!
If you missed out on our pre-orders some of our retailers still have sets available to pre-order (they should receive their allocations next week). We might have a few spare sets but these won’t become available until all our pre-orders are sent out.
Pendolino lightbars unsprung!
Unfortunately, during final QC checks it has become clear that the factory inadvertently omitted to fit lighting pick-up connector springs to the trailer cars in some sets. The springs carry power from the bogie pick-ups to the light-bars, which will not work without them. The images below show the location of the springs – they are missing in this car.
This is how they should look with the springs in place.
We apologise for this problem and we will be in contact with all customers that we have already sent lightbars to. This issue only affects customers wishing to fit light bars, however if you have received your model or models with lightbars and discover the springs are missing Rapido Trains UK will provide them free of charge here:
New lightbar sets have been ordered and will include springs to ensure missing springs are not an issue.
Please note these springs are only required if fitting lightbars and do not impact the operation of the Pendolino in any other way. Customers not requiring lightbars do not need to worry.
Revolution Trains was delighted to support the Class 313 Farewell ‘PEPs on Tour: Sussex Rambler’ event on the South coast this weekend.
The 313 Farewell Railtour passes Bedelands Nature Reserve, Burgess Hill. Photo courtesy Jonathan Hughes.
The railtour was organised by the Branch Line Society and Southern to celebrate the Class 313 PEP (Prototype Electro-Pneumatic) units, that have served generations of commuters and travellers since the mid-1970s.
The PEPs pioneered many now commonplace features such as dual voltage traction and powered doors. For most of their service lives they operated in and around London, however in recent years they enjoyed something of a renaissance on Southern’s ‘Coastway’ route, having been refurbished by Southern and owners Beacon Rail Leasing.
313211 at Brighton in Southern Coastway colours.
In Scotland the similar Class 314s performed likewise.
For some time they have been the oldest units on the network still in squadron service, but they are set to bow out in the upcoming mid-May timetable change.
The railtour took us from Brighton, along the western stretch of the coastway route to Portsmouth Harbour, back to Three Bridges via Littlehampton then across to Hastings, Eastbourne and Newhaven Marine, before returning to Brighton. (Tour images at Hastings and River Arun at Ford courtesy Foulger Rail/Creative Commons)
The tour generated enormous interest, with photographers and enthusiasts waiting at most stations, and internet celebrity trainspotter Francis Bourgouis was one of those on board – patiently posing for photographs at every stop, with young and not-so-young fellow enthusiasts.
It also raised £25,000 for Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice and The Railway Children charities, through ticket sales and an onboard auction which included among its prizes a voucher for an N gauge model of the Class 313 provided by Revolution Trains – congratulations to all lucky winners!
Francis Bourgeois with three annoying hangers-on.
The Revolution Trains N gauge Class 313 ad 314 PEP unit models are now nearing production, and we expect to close the order book in the next 4-8 weeks. We were delighted to support the tour and join hundreds of others in celebrating these stalwart units. And of course it was a great chance to compare with our decorated sample!
We expect to have decorated samples of other models being offered – including Network Southeast, Silverlink and Southern, in the next few days.
All being well these will be on display at the N Gauge Society’s Celebration of N Gauge at the National Railway Museum, York, over the weekend May 13th and 14th, so anyone still undecided who may wish to pre-order can examine them personally. Come and see us there!
Our class 313/314 PEP models can still be pre-ordered at the low pre-production price of £225 (DC with Next18 socket and speaker) or £320 (DCC Sound fitted) using the button below. (Please remember to use separate orders for different types of model, though different liveries or numbers of the same item can be mixed. Thanks!)
No sooner was the Christmas holiday period over and we’re now heading rapidly towards Chinese New Year. Many of you may be aware that Chinese New Year is a holiday period in China [where the majority of models are produced] and the factories tend to shut temporarily for the holiday. That seems an appropriate point to update you on where we’ve reached with various models in production. If the model you’re looking for an update on isn’t featured below then please head over to our Project overview page which has the latest information on all our models.
Class A and B tanks with the NGS’s Hunslet shunter – a nice small layout in the making?
OO/4mm IPA car carriers and Ecofret container flats – we’ve spent a lot of time recently sending out IPA car carriers and FWA Ecofret container flats. All paid for orders should have been sent out now – please let us know if you are missing either your order or your balance invoice, the exception to that are international orders where we have been struggling to get models sent out due to various issues with Royal Mail. We’re investigating alternatives for international orders and will be in contact with affected customers where necessary.
N/2mm Class A/B tanks and Zander aggregate wagons – production is complete and we’ve approved production samples. The models are in transit from the factory and we expect them to arrive in the next week or so. If you pre-ordered Class A tanks or Zander aggregate box wagons from us we will be sending out any balance invoices over the next few days – prompt payment allows us to get your order out more quickly. The Class B tanks will be going out to retailers around the same time – we’ve also made them slightly lighter following customer feedback from the first run of Class B tanks.
N/2mm IIA-D Drax biomass hoppers – the majority of the production is complete and is also in transit to the UK and expected in the next week or so. These wagons are available exclusively from Rails of Sheffield.
OO/4mm Caroline – we had a slight delay with PCBs for the lighting circuits on Caroline which has now been resolved and the models are in the final stages of production. As soon as we have an updated expected delivery date we will update our website.
OO/4mm TUAs – production of the TUAs exclusively for Rainbow Railways is complete, however during our final checks of production samples we discovered some slight problems with some of the tampo printing (around colour density of some of the printing). Rather than send out a not quite right model we’ve agreed with the factory that they will re-work the liveries on the affected models – this will add a bit of a delay while the models are corrected and we now expect to receive the tanks around April – May (depending on how long the corrections take).
N/2mm Mk 5 Caledonian Sleeper and TPE coaches – the Mk 5s are in the final stages of production and we expect the models to leave the factory in March/April (which would have them arrive in the UK during April-May).
N/2mm Pendolino second run – the Virgin liveried Pendolinos are ready to leave the factory but might not make it out of the door before Chinese New Year. If they don’t make it out then they might arrive all versions together – we’ll let you know as soon as we hear from our friends at Rapido.
N/2mm Class 59 – we’ve agreed a production slot with the factory for the 59s so our order book will close on 31 March 2023.
After the resumption of the factories in February we expect a lot of progress on various models so keep an eye out on future updates!
Warley is back! The UK’s largest model railway show returns to the NEC after a forced three-year hiatus and Revolution will be there on stand C15 – come and see us!
We will have two new brochures free to collect – one dedicated to our offerings in 00 gauge, and one to N gauge.
We will have all the latest samples to view including the first decorated sample of our OO/4mm FNA-D nuclear flask carriers (we will publish more images on our website next week) and the first EP sample of the N gauge version as well as many other samples.
OO gauge/4mm scale FNA-D livery sample
N gauge/2mm scale engineering prototype (EP) sample
If you would like to collect an order for OO/4mm IPA car carriers or Ecofret container flats (or any other in stock items) please send us an email by 7pm Thursday 24 November – we will confirm if it is possible or not.
Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming Class 128 Parcels cars in N gauge.
Full line-up of Class 128 models. Photo: Jacques Portal/Model Rail.
Revolution is offering six versions in a selection of liveries and in both Midland Region centre headcode and Western Region gangwayed versions to cover the lifespans and locations of these esoteric and well-liked units.
Midland region 55987 with centre headcode (left) and Western region gangwayed 55994 with split headcode in original green with whiskers.
Although only a small number were built (4 for the Midland region, 6 for the Western region) these units travelled far and their appearance changed significantly when the gangways were plated and the headcode boxes replaced by marker lights. Revolution has tooled for all variations.
55990 in BR Blue ‘Parcels Service’
55991 in BR Blue with headcode boxes replaced by headlights
BR blue era modellers can choose between Midland 55990 with original headcode box showing plain ‘dominoes’ or WR 55991 with headcode boxes removed and replaced with marker lights.
In the 1980s several were painted into an eye-catching Royal Mail red livery with striped double doors, and Revolution is offering two versions: 55992 and 55993.
55992 (right) with gangway and marker lights, 55993 with fully removed and plated over gangway front. Photo courtesy Jacques Portal/Model Rail.
The Midland versions did not receive Royal Mail red as all were withdrawn in the late 1970s and early 1980s, however the Western region versions lasted roughly another decade.
Primary colours: Versions available in green, blue and red. Photo courtesy Jacques Portal/Model Rail.
Naturally the models will feature our usual specification of Next-18 decoder interface, directional working lights and NEM coupler sockets. In addition the models feature highly realistic buffer beam details and pipes, most of which will be factory fitted. We have photographed the models with the couplers removed in most cases to show off the detail, but couplers will of course be provided as the prototypes often ran with a BG or a couple of parcels vans in tow.
As well as variations in the gangways, lights, buffer heads and exhausts, previously mentioned, the Revolution models feature an underframe packed with separately fitted parts and attention to detail you’d expect.
The chassis has a Next-18 decoder socket and although only one bogie is powered under test it has pulled 8 heavy bogie tankers with ease.
All versions can be reserved from our shop at the pre-production price of £135. Models will be available later from retailers, but at a higher price to include their margin.
These samples will be on display at the DEMU Showcase exhibition at Sutton Coldfield in July and at TINGS in September, after which the order book will be closed and the models will go into production.
Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of the 35t Class A fuel tankers and MTV/ZKA Zander box wagons which are scheduled to go into production shortly.
Class B tank (left) and new Class A tank in original Esso silver. The Class B tank has the top details that are absent from the Class A. Note that the solebar of the Class A tanker will be painted red for production.
The Class As are designed to partner our award winning Class B tankers from 2017, as following their introduction from the late 1950s the two types often worked together, with the Class A tankers having a longer barrel as they carried lighter, more volatile fuel.
Class B and Class A tanks at Thameshaven in 1960. Photo Robin Webster used under Creative Commons.
The barrels sent for checking have been posted on Class B sanple chassis for photography; the production models will have the correct red solebars as shown in the painting diagrams.
Artwork for Esso revised livery with grey barrel
You may also notice the sample models are missing the photo-etched catwalks and ladders, and moulded manlids and vents (of two different types), that will be featured on production models. As with the original Class B models the chassis will feature either the original or revised suspension as appropriate.
As well as the original silver and revised grey Esso versions, these are still available to pre-order in Staveley Chemicals, Esso de-branded and weedkilling green or black variants.
Staveley Chemicals and Esso debranded.
Chipman’s weedkilling train water tanks in green and black variations .
In the British Railways modernisation plan of 1955 a need was identified for new, faster power-braked wagons and with the rapid growth in requirements for petrochemicals Esso and Charles Roberts Ltd jointly developed a new design of 35t tank wagons. The Class A tankers were used for lighter, more volatile fuels, and the barrels were therefore longer than the Class Bs designed for heavier fuel oils.
BR 2-10-0 92019 at Hartford in 1965 with a mixed rake of Esso Class A & Class B tankers. Photo Ben Brooksbank/Creative Commons.
The addition of Class A tankers to our range enables the accurate depiction of fuel trains from the late 1950s and 1960s which often ran with a mix of both types. If a Class A tank was marshalled at the front then planked open wagons were included to act as barriers to protect the traincrew in the event of an accident. If the train was double headed the barrier wagons were not necessary as the second locomotive provided the required separation.
BRCW type 3s D6527 + D6505, at Oxford with a mixed train destined for Fawley in 1964. Photo Ben Brooksbank/Creative Commons.
In the mid-1970s, as higher capacity tank wagons entered service, 150 redundant tank wagons were converted to box opens to carry stone and sand, and given the TOPS code MTV.
Original MTV conversions
In the late 1980s many were transferred to the engineer’s fleet, recoded ZKV and given the fishkind name Zander.
Revolution is offering these box wagons in original brown, engineer’s revised versions with yellow top rail and fully repainted Dutch variants. Various individual wagons are being offered, with numerous subtle differences including patch painting and varied labelling.
ZKV Zander in early engineers livery
ZKV Zanders in later CE ‘Dutch’ livery, one with ‘Mainline’ branding
The full listing of liveries on offer can be found on our shop page, and these wagons can be still be reserved with Revolution for a short period at the pre-order price of £19.95 each, or for some versions in triple sets with different numbers at £59.85.
In addition, a further run of Class B tankers will be produced to accompany these models, however the Class Bs will be on sale via retailers in the usual way.
We anticipate that Class A and MTV/ZKV models will be available from retailers too after production, but at a higher price.
Revolution Trains is offering the Class 180 ‘Adelante’ and Class 175 ‘Coradia’ units as its next multiple unit models in both 00 and N.
Grand Central Class 180 ‘Adelante’ – photo courtesy Hugh Llewelyn under Creative Commons
Arriva Trains Class 175 ‘Coradia’
Both families of units were buit by Alstom in Birmingham and share numerous similarities in design, meaning that many parts can be shared between the models to make them both viable.
CAD work on the N gauge models is almost complete; the 00 version will follow soon afterwards.
Class 180 with lower fairing cover removed
Class 175/0 two car unit
Prototype history
The Class 175 and Class 180 are both members of the Alstom Coradia family of units and share many common features and parts.
27 Class 175 units, in a mix of two and three car configurations, were ordered by First North Western in 1997 with the first delivered in 1999. They were used on services between Birmingham, Holyhead, Llandudno, Manchester and Barrow.
175006 passes Anglesey Aluminium while 60020 waits with a train of IWA vans. The vans are the type recently produced by Revolution in 00 and N and available from selected retailers. Photo courtesy Ken Minffordd.
Later they transferred to Arriva Trains Wales and were introduced on the Welsh Marches line to Cardiff, reaching Fishguard and the Pembroke Coast. Since 2018 they have been in the service of Transport for Wales and are now seen from south west Wales and Holyhead across to Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham International.
175002 in Transport for Wales livery at Abergavenny. Photo by Jeremy Segrott used under creative commons.
The Class 180 units are a 5-car 125mph high-speed express member Coradia family. 14 sets were ordered by First Great Western and given the brand name ‘Adelante’, which means ‘go ahead’ in Spanish and explains our terrible headline pun above. Intended for high speed express services to sout Wales, they were plagued by technical problems and later used for fast commuter trains from Oxford, Gloucester and Exeter to London.
180106 at Reading. Photo by Hugh Llewelyn used under creative commons.
Between 2008 and 2020 Hull Trains used four Class 180s, though these units have recently been transferred to East Midlands railway and are now in use between London St Pancras, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
180108 at Harringay. Photo by Hugh Llewelyn, used under creative commons.
In 2009 Grand Central introduced two units for its services between London Kings Cross, Sunderland and Bradford, and now has ten in operation in its striking black and orange livery.
Like the prototype, the Revolution Class 175 and 180 will share many common features, including full interiors, working and switchable headlights, tail lights and interior saloon lights as standard and kinematic power couplers allowing the entire train to be controlled by a single DCC decoder.
Class 175/1 three-car unit.
The models will be fitted with a low-profile chassis, allowing interiors to be depicted on all cars, and Next-18 (N) or Plux-22 (00) decoders. The decoder will accessed via an underfloor panel to make fitting or changing simple. In addition all models will be have factory-fitted speakers for simple sound upgrades.
DCC decoder socket and lighting control switches below the floor for easy access.
The Class 180s will have a similar specification to the 175s.
Revolution plans to offer a selection of versions, though the exact line up has not yet been confirmed.
175 – First North Western
175 – Arriva Trains Wales
175 – Transport for Wales
Class 180 – First Great Western launch livery.
Class 180 – Grand Central livery.
Class 180 – First Group ‘dynamic lines’ livery.
Class 180 – EMR ‘Intercity’ livery.
The order book will be opening very shortly in both scales, and as ever we will be offering a low EarlyBird price to reward those who step up and pre-order.
Revolution Trains would like to thank Alsom, Transport for Wales and Grand Central for their assistance in producing this model.
We’ve said for a long time that we didn’t want to put a further EMU on sale until we’d delivered our Class 320s and 321s (much delayed due to a change of factory and then Covid). With the first batch of 320s/321s due to leave China at any point now and the first EP sample of our 313/314 sneaking into the UK recently we thought now was a good time to open the order book for the 313s and 314s.
Class 313 EP sample
The EP sample doesn’t show all the tooling differences in terms of lights and with or without NRN roof pods but gives a good flavour of the units!
DMSO EP sample
The model features: working, directional lights (with different appropriate styles for each version – original or revised) with some user switchable lighting functions; a low profile drive unit (in centre car); kinematic close coupling with electrical connections between cars; detailed interior; realistic pantograph and a DCC decoder socket (Next 18).
DMSO underframe details
The 313s and 314s are all on sale from the N gauge pre-order section of our Shop in a variety of liveries as previously announced (313s: blue/grey; NSE; Silverlink/London Overground; First Capital Connect/Great Northern; Southern. 314s: Strathclyde orange; ScotRail Saltire).
Want to get an early-bird discount? Place your order by 13 March 2022!
If you want to take advantage of our early-bird discount please place your order by 13 March 2022!
If the version that you want isn’t available yet then we hope to announce some retailer exclusives shortly – you’ve probably spotted that the Network Rail yellow, “modern” Southern Blue/Grey and T7 translator vehicle sets are not in this announcement!
Revolution Trains has received the first Engineering Prototype (EP1) sample of our forthcoming Class 59 diesel in N gauge.
The EP is designed to check the fit of parts, their appearance and the basic performance of the drivetrain, and overall we consider this to be an excellent start, though of course there are areas that will be improved before the next stage of livery sampling.
Specific areas we have identified for improvement are the wheels, the fit of some of the etches (the roof grille was damaged in transit as the packaging that will secure and protect production models is not available yet) and there are some minor blemishes on the body tooling, though this is not unusual as the metal moulds have not yet received a final ‘finishing’ polish.
Like the real thing, the centre cover is easily removed to facilitate access to the Next-18 DCC socket and the light switches that allow DC users to control the tail lights and cab interior lights.
The eagle-eyed will have spotted that this EP is something of a Frankenstein locomotive – combining early pattern Class 59/0 bogies, with Class 59/1 bodyshell and Class 59/2 centre cover. It is not unusual for EP samples to combine parts in this way; naturally details will be combined correctly for specific locomotives at the production stage.
All models supplied with factory fitted sound speaker located in the fuel tank.
Nevertheless, in general we are delighted with the overall look and shape of the model which we feel has captured the character of these powerful and distinctive locomotives. The next step is to finalise the livery diagrams so that decorated samples can be prepared.
Eight liveries (with two running numbers for each) are being offered by Revolution Trains at our low pre-order price of £124.95 (£219.95 with DCC sound fitted).
59001 Yeoman Endeavour in original condition with bell. Foster Yeoman livery. Also available: 59002 Yeoman Enterprise.
59004 Paul A Hammond with updated bogies, yaw dampers, roof pods and exhaust. Revised Foster Yeoman livery. Also available: 59005 Kenneth J Painter, with different roof pod arrangement.
59005 Kenneth J Painter in present condition. Aggregate Industries livery. Also available: 59001 Yeoman Endeavour.
CLASS 59/0
59102 Village of Chantry . ARC Southern livery. Also available: 59104 Village of Great Elm.
59101 Village of Whatley. Hanson livery. Also available: 59103 Village of Mells.
Class 59/2
59203 Vale of Pickering. Model features paired door handles, cosmetic buckeye coupler and correct roof pods. Also available: 59204 Vale of Glamorgan.
59202 Alan Meddows Taylor. DB red livery. Also available: 59201.
59203. Freightliner G&W livery. Also available: 59206 John F Yeoman.
We are anticipating delivery of the models in Q4 2022 or Q1 2023, though at the present time delivery schedules are harder to estimate due to problems with Covid and worldwide logistics chains.
